Siam Oottamasathien, MD (Univ. of Utah) Awarded 2nd Place at AUA Research Forum

Siam Oottamasathien, MD, FAAP, FACS, is a member of the University of Utah Division of Urology, pediatric urologist at PCMC and Director of Research for the Section of Pediatric Urology.  He recently was awarded second place honors for his presentation at the Research Forum at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting in San Diego, May 4-8, 2013.

Dr. Oottamasathien was one of nine invited young urologists highlighted in the “Showcase for Early Career Investigators” program.  He presented his lab’s work entitled, “The Physiologic Relevance of LL-37 Induced Bladder Inflammation and Novel Anti-Inflammatory Polysaccharide Therapeutics”.  His group’s work revolves around pioneering a new mouse model for bladder inflammation, based on a natural biologic peptide produced in the urinary system known as LL-37.  In addition, he presented work on a new class of innovative polysaccharide therapeutic medications which have potent inflammation modulating properties.  These newly patented compounds could someday be used to treat patients suffering from  interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, other inflammatory or fibrosing diseases of the bladder and potentially other problems beyond these.

Dr. Oottamasathien also received the prestigious First Prize in Basic Research at the annual American Academy of Pediatrics-Urology Section meeting in 2012.  His work has been supported by several grants including an NIH K-grant and support from the PCMC Foundation.